Vista peripherals: Plug and play, baby
On the other hand, those who have already spent thousands on their system may scoff at the basic accessories bundled with their PC. If they had their way, these chaps want peripherals which can read minds or use their laser sensor to nuke takeaways. The latter might not be so improbable, if you believe a certain Miss Singapore contestant several years back who proclaimed that the microwaves from her mobile phone might be useful for self defense in the jungle. But let's get real here. Though mind-reading technology is still years away, the basic typing and pointing device has come a long way from being merely sidekicks to the CPU. As features and performance increase exponentially, the role of peripherals has expanded and is now an integral part of the user interface. From launching MSN Live to switching your windows via Flip3D, dedicated controls reduce the number of mouse clicks used for the same task. As Tony Boatman, group marketing manager of Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division, puts it: "We seek to design great PC peripherals that enhance the software experience by intelligently combining hardware, software and services." Though the Microsoft hardware division does have a headstart on the Vista platform, its competitors are close behind. Peripherals maker Logitech has launched a line of accessories with specific features addressing the new services available, while Belkin modestly offers a solution for transferring data from your old XP system to your brand-new Vista machine. As the new platform gains greater market share, we have no doubt that hardware manufacturers will be close behind, offering devices to help simplify the transition.
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